Brown spots, commonly known as age or liver spots, are actually called solar lentigines. They are harmless spots that occur most often on people over 50, people with light skin, and people who get a lot of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. Brown spots are brown because they contain melanin, a pigment that is found in the top layers of your skin, which can "clump" and produce spots.[1] Fortunately, a few home remedies may help reduce the appearance of these spots.

Steps

Method1

Using Lemon Juice

1

Apply lemon juice directly to spots. Lemon juice contains an acid that may help break down melanin pigment and thus reduce the appearance of spots within a month or two. Vitamin C in lemons may directly bleach the skin as well.[2] Cut a lemon into slices and place the slices directly on the brown spots. Leave it on for about 30 minutes and then rinse off with running water.

Be careful about combining lemon juice and direct sun exposure; there are reports that placing lemon juice on the skin can cause significant sunburns in direct sunlight. Other reports suggest that the bleaching of the brown spots is more effective in direct sunlight. It may be best limit sun exposure to lemon-juice treated brown spots to 10 minutes at a time.

2

Use a lemon juice and sugar combination. Squeeze the juice of one lemon into a bowl and add 2-4 tablespoons of sugar, slowly adding the sugar until it combines with the lemon juice to make a sort of paste.

Apply the mixture to each brown spot with a brush or a cotton swab.

Leave the paste on for about half an hour and then rinse it off with cool water.

This paste may dry your skin, so be sure to apply a moisturizer after every treatment.

3

Make a paste with honey, sugar, and lemon juice. Squeeze the juice of one lemon into a bowl and add up to 2 tablespoons of sugar (depending on how much juice the lemon had) and two tablespoons of honey, making a goopy paste.

Apply the mixture to each brown spot with a brush or a cotton swab.

Leave it on for a half hour and then rinse it off with cool water.

The honey provides moisture to protect your skin from over-drying.

Method2

Using Plant Enzymes

1

Learn about the power of enzymes. Enzymes are the workforce of the biochemical world. Enzymes change various substances without getting used up themselves, like nature’s catalytic converters. The enzymes may help break down melanin into colorless smaller parts.[3]

The different foods described here contain different enzymes, but all classified as enzymes which break up proteins—the proteases or proteolytic enzymes.

Grate a potato and mix with honey. Take one medium sized potato (any kind of white potato will work) and grate it into a bowl. Add enough honey to make a paste.

Apply the mixture to the brown spots.

Leave the mixture on for about 15 minutes, and then rinse it off with cool water.

3

Make a papaya mask. Scoop all of the pulp out of a papaya and mash it in a bowl until it is an even consistency. You may want to use a hand mixer to thoroughly mash the fruit.

Use a cotton swab or make-up brush to apply a mask to your face and any other area that has brown spots.

Leave the mask on until it dries and rinse off with cool water.

4

Use pineapple juice or a pineapple mask. Pour some pineapple juice into a bowl (ensure that it is 100% pineapple juice with no added sugar or juice your own pineapple). Using a cotton swab, apply the pineapple juice to any brown spot and leave it on until dry. Rinse off with cool water.

As an alternative, mash up some pineapple slices and apply as a mask to your face and any other area that has brown spots. Leave the mask on until dry, and then rinse off with cool water.

5

Try chickpeas. Cook ½ cup of chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) by measuring out ¼ cup of peas and boiling them in ½ of water. Boil until the peas are soft (15 minutes for canned beans or about an hour for dried beans), then remove from heat and cool.

When cooled, mash the cooked chick peas to make a paste.

Rub the paste onto the spots and let it dry. Rinse it off with cool water.

Method3

Trying Other Approaches

1

Apply plain yogurt directly onto your face. As a dairy product, yogurt contains acids that can help lighten dark spots. The “good” bacteria in yogurt may be beneficial as well, as they are known to contain enzymes that can break down proteins like melanin.[4]

Rub the plain yogurt onto your dark spots that need “fading”.

Leave on until the yogurt dries, and then rinse off with cool water.

2

Mix plain yogurt with herbs. Some herbs may help the yogurt remove the spots from your skin. Apply the yogurt and herb mixture directly onto your face and any other area with spots. Leave on until dry, and then rinse off with cool water. The following herbs contain antioxidants and bioflavonoids that can help lighten brown spots when combined with yogurt:

1 tablespoon of mustard powder

1 tablespoon of turmeric/curcumin powder

1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel

3

Try castor oil. Castor oil contains antioxidants that can protect and lighten the skin. Soak a cotton ball with a few drops of castor oil and dab on your skin anywhere you want to fade the spots. Let it soak in and leave it on!

4

Use Vitamin E. Vitamin E has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties[5] and can help fade dark spots on your skin. Open or pierce a liquid capsule of Vitamin E and apply directly to your dark spots. Let it soak in and leave it on!

Method4

Checking for Cancer

1

Visit a dermatologist. Brown spots are harmless, but they can be mistaken for skin cancer. It’s always a good idea to have any spots on your skin checked by a dermatologist. Once your dermatologist has verified that the spots are merely cosmetic, you can take measures to reduce the appearance of the spots.

2

Learn your ABCDEs. Dermatologists often talk about the “ABCDEs” of skin cancer-- ways to distinguish between skin cancer and a benign (non-cancerous) growth. Skin cancer tends to be:[6]

Assymetric

With uneven Borders (edges)

With varied Colors (Different shades of brown, black and tan)

Larger in Diameter (>¼ inch or > 6mm)

Evolving (changing) in size, shape, color, how much above the skin surface they are raised etc)

3

Look over your skin regularly. Most cancerous spots are marked by change, so keeping track of the way your skin looks can help you with early detection. Depending on factors such as time spent exposed to UV rays and family history, you may need to have your skin checked regularly by a professional dermatologist.

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Tips

One of the best cures is prevention! Brown spots are an example of the type of damage caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds/lamps, so avoiding too much exposure to UV can limit the number of spots you get later. [7]

Castor oil can cause stains on clothes that are tough to remove

Take off any makeup before trying any of these remedies. Clean your skin well to draw out the oil and lotions that may interfere with the treatments.

Protect yourself from overexposure to the sun to prevent more brown spots

If these remedies don’t work after 2 months, see a dermatologist about other possible treatments including:

Medications

Laser therapy

Cryotherapy (freezing)

Dermabrasion

Chemical peels

Warnings

Make sure you keep track of any unusual changes on your skin. Have a partner or good friend keep an eye on skin you can’t see well (on your back, for example).

Be aware of the ABCDEs of skin cancer listed above and make sure to see a dermatologist if you are uncertain about any area of your skin.

About this wikiHow

Expert Review By:

"This article provides some useful information which provides alternatives to the expensive (and very ineffective) skin lightening creams. I have not yet tried some of these remedies, but plan to."..." more- Louise Peacock